Isle of Wight

Isle of Wight's population grew in the 10 years leading up to the latest census. Data from the census also show there were changes in religion, housing tenure and marriage.

The population reached nearly 140,000

Between the last two censuses, the population of Isle of Wight increased by 4.2%, from just under 133,000 to 138,000.

The addition of just over 5,500 people means this area's population increased at a slower rate than the total population of England (up 7.9% since the 2001 census).

In 2011, Isle of Wight was home to, on average, 2.6 people per football pitch-sized piece of land.

Population density was similar to the average across the South East

Population density (usual residents per football pitch-sized piece of land) across the South East, March 2011 (larger dots represent greater increase since 2001)

An older Isle of Wight

Census 2011 data also show a change in the local population's average age.

Between the last two censuses, the median age of Isle of Wight increased by two years, from 44 to 46 years.

This coastal area had a higher average age than the South East and remained older than the average local authority area across England (39 years of age).

The rise in age was because of an increase of almost 5,400 people between the ages of 60 and 69 years, while the population between 30 and 39 years decreased by about 3,000.

About 15% of people in Isle of Wight are aged between 60 and 69 years

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Isle of Wight by 10 year age band, March 2001 and March 2011

Disability in Isle of Wight

The percentage of Isle of Wight residents whose day-to-day activities are not limited by a long-term health problem or disability decreased from 89% to 88% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

The percentage who reported being limited a lot in their day-to-day activities remained close to 3.6%, while the percentage of Isle of Wight residents whose day-to-day activities are limited a little by a long-term health problem or disability increased from 7.2% to 7.4%.

The proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 91% in 2001 to 90% in 2011). Across England, the percentage remained close to 90%.

The proportion of people who aren't limited by a long-term health problem or disability was lower than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents that reported not being limited in their day-to-day activities across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Religion in Isle of Wight

The number of people in Isle of Wight that described themselves as having no religion increased from just under 23,000 in 2001 to just under 41,000 in 2011. This represents a change from 17% to 30% of those who chose to disclose information about their religious beliefs.

The percentage increased by more than the average across the South East (from 17% to 28%) and the average across England (from 15% to 25%).

The number of people in Isle of Wight that described themselves as Christian decreased from just under 98,000 in 2001 to about 84,000 in 2011 (from 74% to 61%). The number of people who did not disclose their religious affiliation increased from just over 10,000 to just over 11,000 (from 7.9% to 8.2%).

Just under 910 people (0.5%) said they identified with a religion other than Christianity, Islam, Hinduism, Judaism, Buddhism or Sikhism, up from about 600 in 2001 (0.7%).

The population without a religion in Isle of Wight increased by 12 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Isle of Wight by religion, March 2001 and March 2011

Rise in private renting

The percentage of privately rented homes increased in Isle of Wight, but at a slower rate than in Portsmouth (the local authority area that shares the largest boundary with Isle of Wight).

In Isle of Wight, the proportion of private renting increased from 11% in 2001 to 17% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Portsmouth increased from 15% to 25%.

Across the South East, the share of privately rented homes increased from 10% to 16%.

The rate of social housing in Isle of Wight increased from 10.0% to 11%, while the rate of home ownership decreased from 76% to 70%.

Private renting in Isle of Wight increased by 6.2 percentage points

Percentage of households in Isle of Wight, the South East and England that rented privately, March 2001 and March 2011

More single people in Isle of Wight

The percentage of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased here, but at a slower rate than in nearby Portsmouth.

In Isle of Wight, the proportion of single people increased from 24% in 2001 to 28% in 2011. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Portsmouth increased from 36% to 44%.

Across the South East, the share of people who had never been married or in a civil partnership increased from 29% to 32%.

The proportion of married people in Isle of Wight fell from 53% to 48%, while the proportion of people who had divorced or separated from a marriage or civil partner increased from 12% to 14%.

The proportion of people who had never married or entered a civil partnership was lower than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 and over that said they were single across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Health improved

The percentage of Isle of Wight residents that described their health as bad or very bad decreased from 9.7% to 6.5% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

Rates are standardised to account for variation in age, which can impact the local population's health.

In 2011, just under 8 in 10 (77%) said their health was good or very good, compared with 65% in 2001. The percentage of Isle of Wight residents that described their health as fair decreased from 25% to 16%.

The proportion of residents that perceived their health as bad or very bad fell at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 7.2% in 2001 to 4.4% in 2011). Across England, the percentage fell from 9.1% to 5.5%.

These data are people’s own opinions in describing their overall health. They may be inconsistent with other measures of health, such as NHS records.

The percentage of people in ’bad’ or ’very bad’ health in Isle of Wight decreased by 3.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in Isle of Wight, the South East and England said their health was bad or very bad, March 2001 and March 2011

More people cohabiting

The percentage of households in Isle of Wight, which comprised a cohabiting couple, increased from 7.5% to 9.3% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under one in three (33%) households had only one person, compared with 31% in 2001. The percentage of households in Isle of Wight which comprised a married couple (with or without children) decreased from 34% to 31%.

The proportion of households with an unmarried couple increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 8.7% in 2001 to 9.9% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 8.3% to 9.9%.

The percentage of households with a cohabiting couple was lower than across the South East

Percentage of households that had an unmarried couple across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Ethnicity in Isle of Wight

The number of people in Isle of Wight from the White ethnic groups remained close to just over 130,000 between the last two censuses. However, as a percentage of the local population, this represented a decrease from 99% to 97%.

The percentage decreased by less than the average across the South East (from 95% to 91%) and the average across England (from 91% to 85%).

The number of people in Isle of Wight from Mixed/multiple ethnic groups (White and Asian, White and Black African, White and Black Caribbean or Other Mixed) increased from just under 720 in 2001 to about 1,700 in 2011 (from 0.5% to 1.2%). The number of residents from the Asian or Asian British ethnic groups increased from about 560 to just over 1,500 (from 0.4% to 1.1%).

About 300 people (0.2%) said they were from the Black, Black British, Caribbean or African ethnic groups, similar to the amount in 2001 (which at the time represented 0.2% of the local population)

The population from the White ethnic groups in Isle of Wight decreased by 1.4 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Isle of Wight by ethnicity, March 2001 and March 2011

More people worked short hours

The percentage of employed people in Isle of Wight working less than 16 hours increased from 2.3% to 3.5% in the 10 years leading up to the latest census.

In 2011, just over 1 in 13 (7.9%) people aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) said they had worked over 49 hours the week before completing the census, compared with 11% in 2001.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 2.1% in 2001 to 3.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.9% to 3.1%.

The proportion of people working less than 16 hours in a week in Isle of Wight increased by 1.2 percentage points

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 (in employment the week before the Census 2011) in Isle of Wight, the South East and England that said they had worked less than 16 hours the week before completing the census, March 2001 and March 2011

Changes in family structure

The percentage of households in Isle of Wight with children decreased from 26% to 25% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under 7 in 10 (67%) households had no children, compared with 66% in 2001. The percentage of households in Isle of Wight with only adult children living with their parents increased from 7.9% to 8.3%.

The proportion of households with children fell here at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (which remained close to 29%). Across England, the percentage increased from 30% to 29%.

The proportion of households with children was lower than across the South East

Percentage of households with at least one dependent child across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

Change in unpaid care

The percentage of Isle of Wight residents that provided between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased from 1.1% to 1.5% in the 10 years leading up to 2011.

In 2011, just under 1 in 30 (3.0%) reported providing at least 50 hours of unpaid care each week, compared with 2.5% in 2001.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care increased at a similar rate to the figure for the whole of the South East (from 0.8% in 2001 to 1.1% in 2011). Across England, the percentage increased from 1.1% to 1.4%.

The proportion of people providing between 20 and 49 hours of weekly unpaid care in Isle of Wight remained close to 1.5%

Percentage of usual residents in England, South East and Isle of Wight by care, March 2001 and March 2011

Employment in Isle of Wight

The percentage of employed people changed very little in this coastal area, while the proportion fell in nearby Portsmouth.

In Isle of Wight, the proportion of employed people stayed close to 46% between the last two censuses. During the same period, the proportion in nearby Portsmouth decreased from 54% to 51%.

Across the South East, the share of employed people decreased from 55% to 54%.

The rate of unemployment in Isle of Wight remained close to 4.4%, while the rate of self-employment increased from 10% to 12%.

The rate of employment was lower than across the South East

Percentage of usual residents aged 16 to 74 that said they were employed across local authority areas in the South East and the average across England, March 2011

↑ Back to the top

Area report data

Related links